Land Rover LR3 Recall 08V248000

Misalignment of Steering Column With Clock Spring May Cause Air Bags Not to Function

(RepairPal Expert Overview)

Our Quick Take:

On certain vehicles improper alignment of steering and air bag components may cause SRS light to come on and air bags to not operate properly.

What Should You Do?

Land Rover will contact customers of affected vehicles beginning July 21, 2008. If you have not been contacted, your SRS light is on and think your vehicle falls under this recall. You should contact your local dealer. It is helpful to have your VIN Vehicle Identification Number ready when doing so

Summary:

On certain LR3 and Range Rover Sport vehicles. There is a misalignment between the steering column and air bag clock spring. This may cause a break in the airbag wiring and lead to the SRS Safety Restraint System light coming on. A bad circuit may also prevent the air bag from deploying, leading to injury or death. The dealer will insert 1mm spacers between the left hand side of the column switch mounting point and column lock to improve alignment of the column switch. Two foam pads will also be fitted to the top of the steering column switch gear to provide clearance between the cowl and clock spring face. The Land Rover recall # is P045

LAND ROVER IS RECALLING 37,142 MY 2005-2006 LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES. RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB AND/OR THE STEERING COLUMN COWL WITH THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH INCLUDES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CIRCUITRY, COULD RESULT IN FRACTURING OF THE AIR BAG WIRING CONNECTION. IF AN AIR BAG WIRE FRACTURES, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT INDICATES TO THE DRIVER THAT THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE SRS SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT IMMEDIATE REPAIR IS NECESSARY.

Consequence:

IF THE SRS WARNING LIGHT IS IGNORED AND A VEHICLE CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY TO COMMAND DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OCCURS, THE AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE INTENDED MANNER. THE CONDITION MAY RESULT IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF ONLY ONE STAGE OF THE DUAL STAGE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OR THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSERT 1MM SPACERS BETWEEN THE LOWER LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE COLUMN SWITCH MOUNTING POINT AND THE COLUMN LOCK TO IMPROVE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COLUMN SWITCH. TWO FOAM PADS WILL ALSO BE FITTED TO THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH GEAR TO PROVIDE ASSURED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE COWL AND THE CLOCKSPRING FACE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Notes:

LAND ROVER RECALL NO. P045.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Recall data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration